Month: June 2015

Or so says a report that was obtained by War is Boring where a test pilot said the country’s new stealth fighter can’t perform as well as the plane it’s meant to replace, the F-16C, in a dogfight. The story is writen by David Axe, a mil-blogger who has been on the forefront of coverage regarding the F-35. The two opening paragraphs. Read the rest here.

A test pilot has some very, very bad news about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The pricey new stealth jet can’t turn or climb fast enough to hit an enemy plane during a dogfight or to dodge the enemy’s own gunfire, the pilot reported following a day of mock air battles back in January.

“The F-35 was at a distinct energy disadvantage,” the unnamed pilot wrote in a scathing five-page brief that War Is Boring has obtained. The brief is unclassified but is labeled “for official use only.”

Well, that isn’t good news given the F-35 was meant to replace the F-15, the F-16 and the A-10. The program has cost taxpayers more than a trillion dollars and while we do have a few planes in testing, we are not going to produce anywhere near the number we had hoped and who knows if the plane will ever be what they thought it was to be — a super stealthy plane that could do it all. And it might. Honestly, most new air frames come into service with a few blemishes on their record before turning into something that is really special (see the F-4 Phantom or even the P-51 Mustang, pre-bubble cockpit).

The report above talks about dogfighting a F-16 and it was just not happening, according to to the report. That said, I wonder how many times planes are actually going to dogfight in the modern area of long-range missiles, fifth generation stealth fighters and drones. I don’t think we need to discount it as we saw what happened in Vietnam when we opted to get out of the dogfighting business. That’s where the Top Gun school was born and that’s where US pilots learned to regain the lead in dogfighting.

Read the blog post by David Axe. It is alarming if it is true. Why do I say that? The F-16 was built in the 70s and designed in the late 60s. The F-35 is bleeding edge. That’s not good. But of course, this is also the plane that can’t fire its cannon due to software glitches. And if it could, there are scant rounds to complete the mission.

Got this today from the National Guard bureau which says 20 or so soldiers from Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment are headed to southern border of Texas to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in their fight against drug smuggling and human trafficking.

The 376th AVN flies the UH-60 Black Hawk and also the UH-72 Lakota. Guard officials say they are taking one Lakota to Texas and will use other whirly birds there. The Lakota is a relatively new airframe which is being used to replace the old UH-1 Hueys and the OH-58 Kiowas.

The soldiers will spend six months down there as part of Operation Phalanx II. THey had their departure ceremony over the weekend, on June 20, to be precise. Here were some comments, provided by the Guard bureau, from Col. Randy Sikowski, of Riverton, Ill., the Chief of the Joint Staffs for the Illinois National Guard:

“Normally when we deploy overseas we are deploying to a country with citizens we have never met and with different cultures,” he said. “However this mission is supporting the citizens along our southwest border in a multi-layered approach with customs and border patrol agents to combat illegal trafficking of people, drugs, weapons and money. This is a very important mission for the United States.”

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tad Simpson, of Atwood, Ill., a maintenance officer with the detachment, said some details are sensitive due to the law-enforcement nature of the mission, however he did say the group would be assisting with approximately 200 miles of the nation’s southern border.

I got a press release regarding the Wall that Heals. It’s a travelign version of the Vietnam Memorial. And as the person said, it might be out of our readership area but it’s a lot closer than going to DC. So here it is:

LeRoy, IL — Veterans and active members of America’s armed services travel great distances and make great sacrifices to preserve and protect freedom and liberty. These sacrifices should be honored and remembered. The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces during the Vietnam War and its walls bear the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most visited memorial in our Nation’s Capital, with more than 4 million visitors each year. Mmany Americans have not been able to visit what has become known to many as “The Wall.”

As part of the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the City of LeRoy and the American Legion, Ruel Neal Post #79 announce the return of The Traveling Vietnam Wall That Heals, a 250-feet long chevron-shaped replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. The reproduction contains all 53,253 names as inscribed on the original wall. It will be on exhibit 24 hours a day at Kiwanis Park in downtown LeRoy, July 23-26. The public is invited to view the wall free of charge. The opening ceremony begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 23. A candlelight closing ceremony will take place at approximately 9 pm on July 26.

Several historical military displays will also be on exhibit including: The Quilt of Tears, Through The Eyes Memorabilia, Simpkins Military History, and the Marseilles American Legion Medals. In addition, two 8’ submarine models will be on display: a WWII GATO Class diesel submarine, and a nuclear Fast Attack submarine.

“We are honored and humbled to host The Wall That Heals”, said Steve Vollmer, steering committee co-chair. “It is important for us to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in keeping our great country free.”

The wall will be escorted to the site by hundreds of area veterans, and volunteers on I-74 on July 21. Those who wish to participate in the escort should meet at Farm & Fleet at 2701 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana by 9 a.m. for staging. In case of construction on the route, check the event Facebook page: “The Wall That Heals” or the event website www.leroywall.org for final details. To participate in the escort, please contact Rick Elwood at wingnut75@netzero.com.

All at Sommer Park in North Peoria. The reenactors are back and they have really upped their game. I know the weather isn’t looking hot on Sunday so go on Saturday. Here’s what they got in store.

More than 400 people dressed up from conflicts spanning 30 years.

Two World War II-era planes that will make a strafing run on German targets. A TBM Avenger and a AT-6 trainer (which doubled for a zero in many movies) will appear. Yes, the Avengers were only in the Pacific theater. Deal with it. 🙂

Tanks. (drops the mike and walks off stage)

A group of Korean War reenactors who will discuss and honor what has been called, at times, “America’s forgotten war.”

A Vietnam battle between US troops and the Viet Cong.

The USO is gonna have a display to show how the GIs were entertained.

The German tank detsroyer that will show up is the one that was in the HBO TV series, “Band of Brothers.” A tank destroyer. Drops mike.

Check out these pictures

Here’s what the organizer wrote to me a few days ago:

Vietnam War reenactment is new this year. There will be public battles between U.S. forces and Viet Cong. Vietnam veterans are especially urged to attend this year as we expand our tribute to include those who served during the Vietnam War.
Also new this year we will have warbirds participating in the battles at 11:00 Saturday and 1:00 Sunday. A T-6 Texan and Grumman Avenger will be on hand Saturday, with the T-6 Texan on Sunday.

New this year we will feature the German Sturmgeschutz tank destroyer featured in the documentary ‘Band of Brothers’. Specially built by Steven Spielberg, it was just acquired from England and this will be one of the first shows it will perform in in America.

More interactive events for the public will be available this year, like a gas-adapted .50 caliber machine gun that the public can shoot for a donation to veterans charities.

At 12:30 veterans are invited to tell their stories at the Eagle Shelter in the park. We hope to have many participants from all wars and time periods. Of course veterans are also invited to just sit and listen.

Battles this year will feature Normandy D-Day 1944 battles between German and Allied forces, plus Eastern front battles between the Germans and the Russians.

Back again this year is a crowd favorite, a WWII T-34 Soviet tank that was a gift from Mikhail Gorbachev to the Wisconsin Military Museum in the city of Oshkoch WI. The tank arrived on a Russian freighter the same time as the Soviet Union changed governments. The ship arrived under one flag and left under another!

“Many people probably think we are just playing war games for fun. Nothing could be further from the truth. We do this to honor our veterans and educate the public about their sacrifices they made. Great expense and a lot of work goes into recreating camps so the people can see how the soldiers lived.”

“And battles are authentic to show the terrible face of war. Men are wounded and taken to first aid stations. We want everyone to learn about what it was like for the combat soldiers of all nations to survive these terrible conflicts. Only then can we appreciate the sacrifices being made daily now by or servicemen and women overseas.”

“We’re especially proud to feature Vietnam Veterans this year. That generation came home to protesters throwing eggs and rotten tomatoes and spitting on them. We think it’s high time they were honored for their service. That’s what we’re all about.”